Comments on: I am a vegetarian and thinking of becoming vegan? http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html Vegetarian Resource with Free Vegetarian Recipes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:33 +0000 hourly 1 By: vanillarose627 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5474 vanillarose627 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5474 Awesome =D! I'm also a vegan, and its very easy to have a healthy vegan diet dispite what everyone else will tell you. Eat alot of raw fruits and veggies. Veggies that should be cooked are ones like potatoes and broccoli. For protein you can eat soy/tofu (make sure its not the highly processed ones, try silk-soy milk and blocks of tofu you can cook with), nuts like almonds and brazil nuts, and dark green veggies. If you eat out, you can eat a places like subway (all breads are vegan except the ones with cheese on them; all pickeled veggies are vegan too), papa johns (NO cheese, pizza crust is vegan :P) and some burger kings sellveggie burgers... but there fries are not cooked in beef stock and not cooked with the meats. You can try looking for vegan resturants in your city here: http://www.happycow.net/ Also, here is list of non-vegan ingredients to avoid when eating out (feel free to ask your waiter about the ingredients used in what your ordering!) and shopping: http://www.veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm Awesome =D! I’m also a vegan, and its very easy to have a healthy vegan diet dispite what everyone else will tell you. Eat alot of raw fruits and veggies. Veggies that should be cooked are ones like potatoes and broccoli. For protein you can eat soy/tofu (make sure its not the highly processed ones, try silk-soy milk and blocks of tofu you can cook with), nuts like almonds and brazil nuts, and dark green veggies.

If you eat out, you can eat a places like subway (all breads are vegan except the ones with cheese on them; all pickeled veggies are vegan too), papa johns (NO cheese, pizza crust is vegan :P ) and some burger kings sellveggie burgers… but there fries are not cooked in beef stock and not cooked with the meats. You can try looking for vegan resturants in your city here:
http://www.happycow.net/

Also, here is list of non-vegan ingredients to avoid when eating out (feel free to ask your waiter about the ingredients used in what your ordering!) and shopping:
http://www.veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm

]]> By: Hi@au http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5475 Hi@au Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5475 HEALTHY EXERCISE UNHEALTHY DIET LOOK SLIM NOT MUCH HEALTHY EXERCISE
UNHEALTHY
DIET
LOOK SLIM
NOT
MUCH

]]> By: blue dolphin http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5476 blue dolphin Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5476 I am not a vegan but you might want to read some of these pages. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=healthy+diet+for+a+vegan&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=becoming+a+vegan&meta= I am not a vegan but you might want to read some of these pages.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=healthy+diet+for+a+vegan&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=becoming+a+vegan&meta=

]]> By: Anna M http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5477 Anna M Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5477 You can get your protein from tofu, bean salads and by food combining. You can take some supplements such as B12 and iron occasionally if you need it. It's a very healthy diet, as it lacks bad fats, but don't be afraid to break it occasionally with sushi or lean chicken!!!! You can get your protein from tofu, bean salads and by food combining.
You can take some supplements such as B12 and iron occasionally if you need it.
It’s a very healthy diet, as it lacks bad fats, but don’t be afraid to break it occasionally with sushi or lean chicken!!!!

]]> By: NiborG http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5478 NiborG Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5478 I know that I'm going to get numerous "thumbs down" with this answer, but, the truth must be told. To be a pure Vegan, you can't use ANYTHING derived from an animal, or more accurately, the animal kingdom. Insects are part of the animal kingdom, so you can't own any furniture in your house that has a varnish finish. Don't forget, you can't wear any woolen clothes. Leather shoes, belts and buttons, forget about it. And please, don't get into a car with a leather interior. Hope you don't own a pillow stuffed with feathers, or wear a down jacket. And, technically speaking, coal, oil and gasoline are hydrocarbons derived from animals that died hundreds of millions of years ago. The list goes on and on. Good luck. It is virtually impossible to be a pure Vegan. I know that I’m going to get numerous "thumbs down" with this answer, but, the truth must be told.

To be a pure Vegan, you can’t use ANYTHING derived from an animal, or more accurately, the animal kingdom.

Insects are part of the animal kingdom, so you can’t own any furniture in your house that has a varnish finish. Don’t forget, you can’t wear any woolen clothes. Leather shoes, belts and buttons, forget about it. And please, don’t get into a car with a leather interior. Hope you don’t own a pillow stuffed with feathers, or wear a down jacket. And, technically speaking, coal, oil and gasoline are hydrocarbons derived from animals that died hundreds of millions of years ago. The list goes on and on. Good luck. It is virtually impossible to be a pure Vegan.

]]> By: Piglet http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5479 Piglet Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5479 It is a big step to take and it is good you are thinking hard about it before taking the plunge. The only tuppence I have to add, is that apart from your own dilemma it will restrict your social life a great deal. Friends and family who are not on the same wavelength are as difficult to convince this is a necessary step. And (as you know) people are generally learning to "deal with" vegetarians (in this country), but cannot (yet) cope with vegans. As a vegan you will also starve to death if you go to countries like Czech Republic for more than a week or two... It is a big step to take and it is good you are thinking hard about it before taking the plunge. The only tuppence I have to add, is that apart from your own dilemma it will restrict your social life a great deal. Friends and family who are not on the same wavelength are as difficult to convince this is a necessary step. And (as you know) people are generally learning to "deal with" vegetarians (in this country), but cannot (yet) cope with vegans. As a vegan you will also starve to death if you go to countries like Czech Republic for more than a week or two…

]]> By: indie_kid24 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5480 indie_kid24 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5480 think about it its really hard and it affects your whole life when going to resturants you never know whats in the food. But there are a lot of alternatives for things you miss out on like PURE butter tastes just like normal butter but its vegan so if you think you can do it go for it ! think about it its really hard and it affects your whole life when going to resturants you never know whats in the food. But there are a lot of alternatives for things you miss out on like PURE butter tastes just like normal butter but its vegan so if you think you can do it go for it !

]]> By: mockingbird http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5481 mockingbird Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5481 I put off switching from vegetarian to vegan for 20 years because I was convinced it would be hard. I've been vegan for just over 5 months now and it hasn't been hard, it's been great. Veganism can be a very healthy diet as long as (like anyone else) you eat a varied, balanced diet. "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina is great coverage of vegan nutrition. To keep you inspired, I recommend a couple of cookbooks. "Vegan with a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and "Veganomicon" by Isa and Terry Hope Romero are both excellent. Once you realize that eating vegan isn't about deprivation or bland food, it's easy to be inspired. Any of Sarah Kramer's books are good to have, too. I put off switching from vegetarian to vegan for 20 years because I was convinced it would be hard. I’ve been vegan for just over 5 months now and it hasn’t been hard, it’s been great.

Veganism can be a very healthy diet as long as (like anyone else) you eat a varied, balanced diet. "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina is great coverage of vegan nutrition.

To keep you inspired, I recommend a couple of cookbooks. "Vegan with a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and "Veganomicon" by Isa and Terry Hope Romero are both excellent. Once you realize that eating vegan isn’t about deprivation or bland food, it’s easy to be inspired. Any of Sarah Kramer’s books are good to have, too.

]]> By: Beth X http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5482 Beth X Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5482 Being already a vegetarian you're probably already aware of most meat-free protein sources that are available: * Tofu * Pulses - e.g. beans, chickpeas, lentils * Nuts & seeds * Peanut butter * Hummus * Tahini (sesame paste) * Wholegrains - e.g. wholemeal bread, porridge oats, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa It's really just a matter of replacing dairy products with things like soya milk and yoghurts etc. Check the ingredients list on any meat analogues (food made from wheat and/or soya proteins to resemble meat, poultry, or fish) you buy from now on as well as some contain egg whites. Vegans don't eat Quorn for example. One downside of cutting out dairy is it's a reliable source of calcium and vitamin B12 but there are more alternative sources than you'd think. CALCIUM * Fortified soya milk and margarine * Tofu * Swede * Green leafy vegetables - e.g. watercress, kale * Broccoli * Dried apricots and figs * Almonds * Brazil nuts * Tahini VITAMIN B12 * Marmite * Seaweeds and alfalfa sprouts * Mushrooms * Fortified breakfast cereals, soya milk and margarine * Fortified meat analogues * Fermented soy products - e.g. miso, tempeh All supermarkets produce lists indicating which of their products are animal-free. Ask for a copy. You’ll be surprised at how much is on offer. Look out for these brand names: FREEZER SECTION Fry’s Burgers, sausages, hot dogs, mince, nuggets, schnitzels, culets http://www.frys-special.com/Default.asp Cauldron Foods Sausages, falafels, pâte, tofu (plain, organic, smoked or marinated) http://www.cauldronfoods.co.uk/CMSPage.aspx CHILLER SECTION Redwood Foods (chilled) Soya cheese, fake meat slices, (frozen) sausages, schnitzels and nuggets http://www.redwoodfoods.es/index.php Provamel Alpro Soya milk, milkshakes, dairy-free yoghurts and desserts http://www.alprosoya.co.uk/alpro/UK_en/index.html So Good Soya milk, beverages and desserts http://www.sogoodbeverage.com/ Rice Dream Rice milk, dairy-free desserts and snack bars http://www.tastethedream.eu/ Tofutti Dairy-free cream cheese http://www.tofutti.com/btcc.shtml SHELVES Plamil Egg-free mayonnaise (plain or garlic) and chocolate http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/index.htm Allergycare Egg replacer http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471310_Allergycare_Whole_Egg_Replacer__200g.html Free & Easy Dairy-free cheese sauce and gravy http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471273_Free___Easy_Gluten_Free_Cheese_Flavour_Sauce_Mix_130g.html http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471299_Free___Easy_Gluten_Free_Vegetable_Gravy_Sauce_Mix_130g.html Kallo Soy snacks, rice cakes, rice milk, stock cubes and powders http://www.kallofoods.com/healthdiet/vegan-vegetarian.asp http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/554638_Kallo_Low_Fat_Rice_Drink__1ltr.html Green & Blacks Dark chocolate (with ginger; cherries; mint; maya gold; expresso; or with hazelnut & currants) http://www.greenandblacks.co.uk/uk/categories.php?pageid=27&cid=6 More on dairy-free chocolate http://www.animalaidshop.org.uk/chocbars.htm Being already a vegetarian you’re probably already aware of most meat-free protein sources that are available:
* Tofu
* Pulses – e.g. beans, chickpeas, lentils
* Nuts & seeds
* Peanut butter
* Hummus
* Tahini (sesame paste)
* Wholegrains – e.g. wholemeal bread, porridge oats, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa

It’s really just a matter of replacing dairy products with things like soya milk and yoghurts etc. Check the ingredients list on any meat analogues (food made from wheat and/or soya proteins to resemble meat, poultry, or fish) you buy from now on as well as some contain egg whites. Vegans don’t eat Quorn for example.

One downside of cutting out dairy is it’s a reliable source of calcium and vitamin B12 but there are more alternative sources than you’d think.

CALCIUM
* Fortified soya milk and margarine
* Tofu
* Swede
* Green leafy vegetables – e.g. watercress, kale
* Broccoli
* Dried apricots and figs
* Almonds
* Brazil nuts
* Tahini

VITAMIN B12
* Marmite
* Seaweeds and alfalfa sprouts
* Mushrooms
* Fortified breakfast cereals, soya milk and margarine
* Fortified meat analogues
* Fermented soy products – e.g. miso, tempeh

All supermarkets produce lists indicating which of their products are animal-free. Ask for a copy. You’ll be surprised at how much is on offer.

Look out for these brand names:

FREEZER SECTION

Fry’s
Burgers, sausages, hot dogs, mince, nuggets, schnitzels, culets
http://www.frys-special.com/Default.asp

Cauldron Foods
Sausages, falafels, pâte, tofu (plain, organic, smoked or marinated)
http://www.cauldronfoods.co.uk/CMSPage.aspx

CHILLER SECTION

Redwood Foods
(chilled) Soya cheese, fake meat slices, (frozen) sausages, schnitzels and nuggets
http://www.redwoodfoods.es/index.php

Provamel Alpro
Soya milk, milkshakes, dairy-free yoghurts and desserts
http://www.alprosoya.co.uk/alpro/UK_en/index.html

So Good
Soya milk, beverages and desserts
http://www.sogoodbeverage.com/

Rice Dream
Rice milk, dairy-free desserts and snack bars
http://www.tastethedream.eu/

Tofutti
Dairy-free cream cheese
http://www.tofutti.com/btcc.shtml

SHELVES

Plamil
Egg-free mayonnaise (plain or garlic) and chocolate
http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/index.htm

Allergycare
Egg replacer
http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471310_Allergycare_Whole_Egg_Replacer__200g.html

Free & Easy
Dairy-free cheese sauce and gravy
http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471273_Free___Easy_Gluten_Free_Cheese_Flavour_Sauce_Mix_130g.html
http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/471299_Free___Easy_Gluten_Free_Vegetable_Gravy_Sauce_Mix_130g.html

Kallo
Soy snacks, rice cakes, rice milk, stock cubes and powders
http://www.kallofoods.com/healthdiet/vegan-vegetarian.asp
http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/554638_Kallo_Low_Fat_Rice_Drink__1ltr.html

Green & Blacks
Dark chocolate (with ginger; cherries; mint; maya gold; expresso; or with hazelnut & currants)
http://www.greenandblacks.co.uk/uk/categories.php?pageid=27&cid=6

More on dairy-free chocolate
http://www.animalaidshop.org.uk/chocbars.htm

]]> By: thinksmart http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5483 thinksmart Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5483 I used to be a vegan but now I'm absolutely clear about it! I used to be a vegan but now I’m absolutely clear about it!

]]> By: lele 90 flower http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5484 lele 90 flower Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5484 I'm vegetarian. I think that vegan is difficult to be. especially for me because I'm 17 I’m vegetarian. I think that vegan is difficult to be. especially for me because I’m 17

]]> By: Emilie L http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html/comment-page-1#comment-5485 Emilie L Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.becomingvegetarian.net/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-thinking-of-becoming-vegan.html#comment-5485 See here: http://www.annecollins.com/vegan-diet.htm http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/ Good luck - it's hard to begin with but gets easier the longer you stick to it. There are loads of great soya-based cheeses and creams out there. Experiment and enjoy! See here:
http://www.annecollins.com/vegan-diet.htm
http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/

Good luck – it’s hard to begin with but gets easier the longer you stick to it. There are loads of great soya-based cheeses and creams out there. Experiment and enjoy!

]]>